Top Ten Tuesday: Best Bookish Settings

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018.

I love an amazing setting. Atmosphere and setting are 2 things that will make me fall in love with a book. So I was really excited about today’s prompt!

I was definitely surprised to see that most of my favorite settings aren’t entirely fantastical.

Here are 10 books with my favorite settings!

1. Fable series by Adrienne Young

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This is probably the most shocking one on this list for me because historically I don’t love things set at sea. But something about the Narrows, Jeval, and the Marigold sucked me in. This entire world is fantastic and atmospheric and everything I love.

2. Much Ado About You by Samantha Young

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

This setting essentially a bookworms dream. It’s set in a small English town at bookstore – that tourists can run during their stay! Everything about this setting was cozy and inviting. I wanted to jump into this book the entire time I was reading.

3. Wild series by K.A Tucker

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This book made me want to visit Alaska so fiercely. It’s set in the Alaskan wilderness which would a nightmare to live (for me personally) but stunning to visit.

4. Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This is another setting that I wouldn’t want to actually live in, but it’s a favorite nonetheless. Not only is this book a favorite, but the setting itself is my favorite and one I am always on the hunt for – magical nature settings!

This haunted woods was so vivid and atmospheric.

5. Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This setting is based in reality but with a magical twist. This takes place on Sawkill Island which is a sentient island working with 3 magical girls to defeat a demon haunting it.

6. The Beautiful series by Renée Ahdieh

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Another realistic setting! I’ve never been particularly drawn to New Orleans in real life, but this book definitely had me wanting to pack up and go. I loved how dark and gritty this setting was and it was the prefect backdrop to this vampire/paranormal story!

7. Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Who doesn’t love a good boarding school setting?? And this one is top tier. Not only do you get the amazing school setting, but it’s isolated on the side of a mountain so it creates a perfect setting for a closed door mystery.

8. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Probably one of the most unique settings I’ve ever read! This setting is set between life and death and appears differently to everyone that arrives. But to the main character, it appears as a library. Amazing.

9. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I say I don’t like sea based settings but this is the second one of this list… This YA fantasy is set at kingdom by the sea who worship a sea god. This entire setting/atmosphere is gritty and hella dark. Definitely one of the most atmospheric books I’ve ever read!

10. The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Last but not least – another setting I’d never want to live in but loved reading about. This is a set in snowy Russia and the setting is so vivid and descriptive it’s practically it’s own character. And in general this entire series is absolutely magic.

What are some of your favorite settings and/or books with that setting??

7 responses to “Top Ten Tuesday: Best Bookish Settings”

  1. Jamie @BubblyBooks Avatar
    Jamie @BubblyBooks

    Fable would be such a cool and vicious world to be stuck in!! And I own the House of Salt and Sorrow and bet the world is so good! Great list 🙂

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  3. msbookworld Avatar

    New Orleans would be an interesting place to live in. I agree with you that the setting of the Winternight trilogy sounds beautiful but DEFINITELY not a place I would want to live in real life

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    1. paperbacks.and.planners Avatar

      Right?! As much as I love the winter king I don’t wanna face any of that myself 😅

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  4. msbookworld Avatar

    yup winter is definitely not my thing. couldn’t be happier that it’s finally warming up here in NYC. btw if you enjoyed Winternight trilogy you may enjoy Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

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    1. paperbacks.and.planners Avatar

      I will definitely check out Spinning Silver! Thanks for the rec 😍❤

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I’m Robin

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